Here's the links to the Quilomene and Colockum wildlife area sites. The "window" for green grasses, flowers and moderate temps (usually accompanied by daily blasts of big wind) is fast approaching in these areas. I'm going to try to do a re-con asap on current "approach" routes, as they change from year to year and I haven't been out to the "core" of this area in a while. This is a very interesting, remote and strikingly beautiful area in Washington state, especially in the spring. Be prepared, lots of really rough, unmaintained routes... still, MTB's are a great way to explore these areas for those who are so inclined.
Yeah that's a great resource for a lot of varied stuff out here.
FYI it's been raining HARD though, so I'm thinking it's going to be back to gooptacular until it gets some sun... and though I'm loathe to admit it, the usual nuclear spring winds help too...
I remember taking some folks up on Whiskey Dick ridge maybe just east of the current wind farm and having to walk on the top because the wind was so bad. Then we were hanging on to the top tubes while hoofing because the wheels were sometimes flying out. Worst gust: a guy was just holding the top tube with arms extended as the bike went fully horizontal.:eekster: Good times....
Once we were camping in the bottom of the Q just up from the "lagoon"... it was 'bout 10:00am and calm... all of the sudden we heard a sound like a freight train coming down the canyon... huge downslope gusts hit our camp relentlessly untill we had what was left of it packed up. Rolled one tent down to the water, flattened my old Cabellas guide dome to the ground, breaking two poles and ripping the heck out of the rain fly... memorable Q/C trip for sure. You're right though... we kind of hope for it around here when things get saturated... can dry out in a day or so w/ a good Eastern WA. wind.
Ward- PMed you re Yakima Skyline trail... husby and I had another dangerous session with Google Earth and other mapping software one night this week. Amazing how easy it is to 'virtual bike' it while sitting in front of a computer screen. Becomes somewhat different in practice though. :smilewinkgrin:
I must have pushed a wrong button or something... didn't get the Skyline Trail pdf. I've been known to mess things up computer wise (often get tutoring from my daughters). Just recieved 150' of 4mm static line from REI for my "zip-line" cam project, working on the "cam trolly" tonight. If it's working, I hope to test it somewhere this weekend. Wish I was out riding today! 60something here and the Yakima was bank-full this morning on my commute, probably spilling over now...
I don't have a pdf, I've got a giant jpg file that shows our projected route and elevation profile. I just wanted to make sure you've got the bandwidth to handle a ~200kb file before I just slam it down on ya.
I'm a little unsure about the best way to come out of Roza back up onto the ridge heading south, and I wanted especially to know if you'd run into goatheads out there. We did some riding years ago in that area without problems, but worth asking IMO since it would suck big time to get 10+ miles out and get totally clobbered with them.
Oh, gottcha. Went through the Roza a couple of times last year, from the south end of the Skyline down into the Roza and then back out the Roza. I've personally never got a goat head down in there or any where on the Skyline trail. Doesn't mean there isn't any out there... they like to travel! Haven't ridden up to the north end of the Skyline from the Rosa... We usually ride out to the "Pass" on the Durr and then return on the SL south to the Rosa. Works for us because the rosa canyon road takes us up & over to the Wenas (via Sheep Company Road)... a long route for you guys if your coming from the north. Might save alot of time and miles by climbing straight back up the SL. It's a steep climb w/ a bunch of pushin', but it's quite a ways out to the Durr... there is a couple short cuts... but they're hard to explain. One is a set of single trackish, intermitant trails that go up the upper Roza Creek... we've ridden them all the way down to the Roza from the Durr (way up the Durr in fact)... not sure if thats totally legal, I've seen lot's of horses doin' it and there is a trail... Let us know when you go, we might be out there too.
Should be OK for a big jpg, on Charter w/ a Mac...
Driving down to Selah to start is no big deal since we'll be out there for a good chunk of the day anyway, and we know the views from that end are super. Decided that the pull out of Rosa looked so steep we may as well just push up it and save the longer grades for downhill.
Husband's already calling this one "The Crazy 8", lol.
Now that's a new twist on some old routes! Had to look at that one for a sec before I got it. Riding downhill from the very top and then into the Rosa will give you allot of cool double track DH then, after the climb back to the top (which is a ROUGH DH anyway) the ride back along the SL is spectacular... Good thinking... gonna have to give the "Crazy 8" a try.
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